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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
American writers on peace and against war
Women writers on peace and war
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Lillian Rozell Messenger
Columbus
Or “Was It Morning?” (1893)
Since man first left his Eden vales, his step
Hath wander’d to the West, his morning land.
The East but holds his life’s embalmed past,
The West, the glory of his dream-ideal.
Soon trackless waves come tumbling out of space,
Like oceans fresh from Chaos, on before
The vessels three; when raged the deep and all
Mad demons of the winds howl’d forth in glee,
Columbus sent his prayer across the storm
On wings of faith, and touch’d the realm of Peace –
Deep call’d to deep, alluring him still on.
***
“Now doth there pass before my prophet soul,
Some vision swift, prefigured as a dream,
Soft glowing on the rose-gray mists of sleep.
Of this New World’s fair future! blest of peace,
Blest of all nations’ praise – of Liberty,
Whose flag shall take the azure dome and stars;
Whose mighty mountains, streams and forests grand
Shall move to Freedom’s hymn, and ope new gates
To larger life, to highest truth for men?”
Saw he the mighty ships? Heard he the roar
Of vasty cities, labor’s thunders loud;
As Toil and Art wore garments radiant
In Time’s fresh loom for this fair virgin world
That, like a star, should light the voyageur
From stormy Wrong to God’s wide seas of Peace?
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